Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-12-09
A SICK SISTER,"
IN EX-CONFEDER1TE SOLDIERS
STORY or THE WAR.
DISGUISED AS A WOMAN HE OBJ.
TrgnTH

STORY or THE WAR.
DISGUISED AS A WOMAN HE OBJ.
TAINs VALUABLE INF0R-
NATION.
An ex.COnfederate tells the tol.
loving war story in the Detroit
Free Press While Sheridan's forces
we're lying in camp, just previous
to Early's movement and temporary
victory by passing along the base
of MassanuttoD Mountain, at Stras.
burg, Va, / was sent into the
Federal lines by General Early to
pick up such information as could
be had. The armies we're so close
together that there was no neutral
ground between them for one to
operate on, and the task Of pene-
trating the lines seemed to me the
most perilous one had yet IN.
dertaken. After casting around
for a day, and holding interviews
with some residents in the vicinity
who had come into the Confederate
lines for safety, | decided on a plan.
On the pike leading out of town
and running along the right flank
aud rear of the Federal army, or at
least a part of it, was a Confeder-
ate war widow who could be de-
pended on. A part OF her house
was then occupied by Federal Of
ficers, aud it was certain to be a
depot for information. From a wo-
man in Strasburg | borrowed a
pretty complete outfit Of wearing
apparel, had my long hair trimmed
as many of the Southern women
wore theirs during the war, and at
dark one night 1 moved along the
right flank of the Federal army un-
til two miles below the point | de-
signed to make. Then put my
sell in female rig, arranged an extra
bundle, and struck the Middletown
pike IN the rear OF the Sixth Corps.
1t wasn't five minutes before | was
challenged and an officer called to
investigate, and this is the story |
told:
"My name Is Mayworth, my hus-
band was killed at Bull Run. |
livs in the log house on the cross
road coming in about a mile from
here, where you people burned the
big red barn. Ny sister, Mrs.
ARROW, lives in the double log
house Just as you raise the hill a
mile and half ahead. am sick
and worn out, and am going up to
stay with her until this is over.
Scarcely a question was asked
me. | was challenged twice more,
but got of just as easy. Having
come in behind a portion of the
army in blue no one could we'll sus
pect me, and as matter of fact
the women of that neighborhood
we're shifting about a good deal
and there was no military reason
why they should be stopped. !
reached Mrs. Arrows without a
mistake. knew that the fronts ol
both houses we're occupied by Of
ficers. and when | approached II
was by the rear. / had to pass
half a dozen orderlIes to get into
the house, and though some ol
them wanted to jest with me, nc
one interfered with my movements
I found the woman just as she had
been described, intelligent, patrl
otto and very observing. She had
been doing cooking and laundry
work for some of the officers, anC
had kept her eyes and ears open.-
On two occasions she hal beer
through the six corps, and sh'
knew the lay of the ground cleal
down to the uase of the mountain
and the force of cavalry holding It
| had passed for female very
we'll at night, bnt could not rur
too many chances by daylight.
therefore went to bed to play SICK
I was entirely beardless then, bu'
we put a poultice on my cheek fol
nenralgic, tied a cloth over the
greater share of my face, and as
Law in bed with my woman's night
dress on the makeup was com
pIete. Indeed, an army surgeon
came IN and prescribed for me, anC
two vivandiers visited me OF
two different occasions without thu
imposition being detected. l wa
in the house eight days and nights
and between what | heard an'
W bat Mira. Akrow saw and plcke'
mn | reported to Gen. Early on m,
ret,rru to his headquarters th'
mum ber of Federal cavalry holding
the advance position within 25O
the number of field pieces within
three. the exact number Of earth
works and length of breastworks
and the amount of artillery in tn
CorDs lacking three or four.
"Is your husband a Christian !
asked the minister.
81 don't think so. He won't Joll
the church."
"That is very sad. Does he Civ
anv reason for staying out of th
fold ~
eyes. He's an official in the ban